Base-ball-field marker.



T. H. MURNANE. BASE BALL FIELD MARKER. AIPLIOATION IILBD JULY 2. 1907.

Patented June 15,1909.

. [NI/ENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

TIMOTHY H. MURNANE, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO MICHAEL J. REGAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BASE-BALL-FIELD MARKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY H. MUR- NANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of h Iassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Base-Ball-Field Markers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to base ball field markers for the diagrammatical lines of base ball grounds or other playing fields, and the embodiment shown herein pertains particularly to the two parallelogranis known as the batsmans lines of a base ball field.

Prior to my invention, it has been the practice to trace the field lines with chalk or lime, either in powdered or liquid form, which in places that are frequently used become quickly obliterated, and may be distinguished for only a short portion of the period of a game.

The object of my invention is to produce a device by which the playing lines may be permanently displayed, and which will avoid obstruction and interference with play.

Another object of my invention is to produce a more simple, cheap and effective marker of the character described than has heretofore been accomplished, and which will enable the rules of play to be more carefully observed and enforced.

To these ends, the invention includes the combinations and arrangements of component parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, a portion of a base ball field is shown illustrating my invention applied to the lines of the batsmans box, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of same, detached from the ground, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device embedded in the ground, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

My invention includes, generally, a base plate buried beneath the surface of the ground, and having a longitudinal groove therein, a strip of slashed rubber or other suitable flexible fabric secured in said groove and projecting above the upper face of the base plate and substantially flush or slightly above the surface of the ground, and anchors or stakes to which the plate is secured.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. July 2, 1907.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 381,909.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention as applied to the lines known as the batsmans box of a base ball field, 1 designates a base plate of wood or other suitable material which is provided With a longitudinal groove 2 in its upper face. Secured by any suitable means in said groove is a strip of flexible fabric 3, such as rubber or canvas, which projects above the face of the plate 1. Said flexible strip may be slashed into short. sections above the face of the base plate, as shown, for the purpose hereinafter described.

In forming the batsmans box shown in the drawings, the base plate is mitered at the corners and united by leaf hinges 5 having one leaf thereof 6 secured to one of the sides by screws and the other leaf 7 detachably secured to the other side by straps 8.

In use, the base plate 1 is buried beneath the surface of the ground on the lines of the diagram of the field, and secured in position by anchors or stakes e1 to'which the plate may be attached by screws or in any suitable manner. The upper edge of the flexible strip 3 is designed to come flush with the surface of the ground or project slightly thereabove. In this manner the outlines of the diagram are permanently marked and will not become obliterated by use, and the device affords no obstruction or interference with the action in running or sliding by reason of the slashing of the flexible strip 3, which is the only portion above the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. An article of the class described, comprising rigid longitudinally grooved base plates adapted to be anchored beneath the surface of the ground, longitudinal flexible strips secured in the groove in said base plates, and projecting above the faces thereof, the exposed portions of said strips being slashed into sections, said base plates being mitered and united at their corners by leaf hinges, substantially as described.

2. An article of the class described, comprising rigid longitudinally grooved plates adapted to be anchored beneath the surface of the ground, longitudinal flexible strips secured in the groove in said base plates and projecting above the faces thereof, the exposed portions of said strips being slashed into sections, said base plates being mitered signed my name in the presence of two subat then corners and united at their corners scrlbing Witnesses.

by leaf hin es one member of said hin 'es Th T being rigidl? secured upon the plates and the TIMOTHY MURL other member being slidably secured upon \Vitnesses:

JAMES A. GALLIVAN,

the adjacent plate, substantially as described.

CHARLES F. GAYNOR.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 

